Vehicle-top.



Patented May 8, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET M M. FWILDAU.

VEHICLE 10P. Amrcmou man ma. 7. 19m

M. F. wlLDAu.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPUCMION'HLEDVEEB. 7.1916.

Patented May 8, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M. F. WiLDAU.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 7.1916.

Patented May 8, 1917'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MICHAEL F. WILDAU, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, l1917.

Application filed :February 7, 1916. Seria No. 76,500.

To all whom t may concern:

l Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. VILDAU,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of '5 New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicleffops, of which the following is a specification.

In endeavoring to meet the growing demand for beauty and simplicity in the design of automobile bodies, manufacturers have produced the s'o-called .stream-'line cars now in general use. Designers have however been handicapped by the presence of the customary top which, when folded, lacks the desired neatness and detracts from the otherwise sightly lines of the body.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a disappearing top for automocar equipped with the improved top, showing the latter unfolded. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection, on an enlarged scale, of the rear portion of the car, showing the top telescoped preparatory to folding and lowering it into the pocket of the automobile body. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the top telescoped and folded preparatory to lowering it out of view. Fig. 1l is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 4.-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similarv tov Fig. 3, showingpthe top lowered and concealed in the automobile pocket. Fig. 6 1s a perspectiveview of the frame of the top and its rear supports.' Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the telescopic framesections of the top. v Fig. 8 is a transverse section on 5o line 8-8, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 9-9, Fig. 2. Fig. 10

is an enlarged vertical section of one of the devices for locking the top to the windshield frame. Fi 11 is a side elevation of,`

n motor-boat provided with the top.

biles and other vehicles which is completelyy Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 1 Y

Referring to Figs. 1-10, the body of the automobile has the usual front seat 2, rear seat 3 and the customary upright stationary frame or support 4 for the wind shield. The body is of ordinary construction except that in the case of a touring car it is pro-l vided .behind the rear seat with an upright pocket or compartment 5 of suitable dimensions to receive and conceal theimproved top which is generally designated by the reference numeral 6. This pocket is normally closed at its top by a lid or cover-'7 70 which is preferably upholstered, as shown at 8, to form a continuation of the back-rest of the rear seat, as best illustrated in Figs.; 2 i and 5. In the construction shown, theffiiont edge of the cover is connected byV a hinge'4 9 75 to the top kof the partition 1.0 forming the front wall of the pocket 5 and therigid backof the rear seat. l l The top can` be collapsed and folded in/ this manner without disturbing the covering I 11, which may therefore be permanently secured tothe bows of its frame as hereinbefore described', thus permitting the' top to be readily and conveniently lowered.

The top-6 is collapsible or telescopic and 85 .comprises a covering 11 of leather or other suitable material applied to a frame which is composed of a suitable number of sections constructed to telescope lengthwise of the vehicle. In vthe 'preferred construction 90 shown in the drawings, the foremost section ,of this frame consists' of a pair of parallel longitudinal rods or tubes 12'rigidly lcon- 'nected together at their front ends by a cross bar 13 and at their rear ends by a bow or 95 arch 14 raised above the level of said side rods and having its vertical end portions 15 provided with horizontal inwardly-extend i ing arms 16 which are rigidly secured to the rods. These rods telescope into a pair of tubesv 17 forming the side-members of the I next section of the top and provided in their outer sides with longitudinal slots f 18 through which the arms 16 pass ,and in which they slide in contracting and extend- A ing the top. `Carried. by the rear ends of the tubes 1T and rigidly secured thereto is a' second bow 19 provided with inturnedarms 20. The tubes 17 telescope into similar i tubes 21 forming the side members bf the BEST AVAILABLE conI through which pass the inturned arms 25 of the third bow 26, which'is fastened to the l l progressively thicker from the front towardr Figs. 2

rear ends of the telescopic tubes 21. The slots of the tubes 17 terminate shfgct of their front ends t0 form stops or shoulfers which prever-.t complete withdrawal ofi: the foremost rods or members 12 from said tubes. The slots of the succeeding tubes 21 and 23 extend to the extreme front ends thereof to permit the arms 16 and 20 of the bows 11i and 19 to pass from end to end of the .does 21 and to enter the slots 24 of the rea 1 :fiest tubes 23 in completely telescoping` the frame-sections of thetop, as shown in Figs.

2, 8 and 5. To prevent complete withdraw al of the second and third pairs of tubes 17 and 21 from their respective supporting tubes, the slots of the tubes 21 and 23 are contracted near their front ends to form stops or;shoulders 27, 28 against which the arms of the bows 19` and 2G are adapted to abut, as shown in Fig. 6. To perni'it'this "contraction of the sections and atthe same time prevent their disconnection when extended, the arms of the'several bows are the rear end of the top, and the uncontracted `portions of the slots of the telescopic tubes are progressively wider to t said arms.

On the rear endsof the largest tubes 23 is mounted the rearmost bow 29 of the topframe, its inturned arms 30 being secured to flattened.. rearward extensions 31 of said tubes. As shown, the several bows or arches, except the'rearmost one, are progressively higher from the front toward the rear of the top. while .the rearmost bow 29 is somewhat lower than the highest one 26, to give the top the usual forward and backward slope, as shown in Fig. 1 and by dotted lines in Fig. '6.

At its rear end, the telescopic top is piu'- otally supported upon suitable standards or uprights in such manner that after being telescoped, it may be swung into a pendent position and lowered into the pocket 5. `In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, the flattened rear portions 31 of thetubes 23 fire hinged by transverse pins or rivets 32 to forked arms or brackets- 33 extending forwardly from vertically-mov able tubes 3st which are telescopically mounted on tubular posts or upright guides 35 arranged in the rear portion of the pocket 5' and firmly secured to the bottom thereof, so that the tubes 3l may be elevated or extended to the normal position shownxinA and 3, or lowered into the pocket, The verticallyeswinging' as shown in Fig.

^ tutes 23 may be locked in their normal horizontal position by any suitable means, those shown in the drawings consisting of thumb screws or bolts 3G passing through .the brackets 33 and openings 37 formed in the extensions 31, as shown in Fig. 9. Suitable means are provided for retaining the upright tubes- 34 in their elevated position', the devices shown in the drawings consisting of thumb screws 3S passing through the lower portions of said tui -s and engagin threaded openings former in plugs braze in. the inuiier ends of ythe yosts 35, as illustrated ifi Fig. a.

The posts 35 terminata suitable distance below the upper end the pocket 5 and the top is made of such dimensions 7that when collapsed and folded. itr completely enters the pocket, as shown in Fig. 5.

Means are also provided for conveniently withdrawing the vertically-sliding tubes 3l and the folded top from the pocket 5. For this purpose the lower portions of these tubes are preferably connected by a trans- Jverse rod 39 to which is attached a iexible ifting'cord or chain 40 having its upper portion guided between a pair of anti-fric-l tion rollers l1 journaled on the rear wall of the pocket near its top. as shown in Figs.

5 and 8. The upperend of this cord termi- These 'springs are distended when the folded top is lowered into the pocket, as shown in Fig. 8, and therefore serve also to-vassist the operator in raising the top out of the pocket. i

The covering 11 of the top 'may be provided at its rear end with the' customary downward extension or curtain 4:4. "The covering mayqbe secured to its frame by any suitable vmeans; I prefer to fasten it permanently to the cross ybar 13 yand the rear bow 29.

lVhen the top is extended, its front end is preferably supported upon the posts of the wind shield-frame 4 to which it isdetachably secured by any suitable means. For this purpose, the .posts of said frame may be providedv in their upper ends with, vertically-sliding-locking bolts 445 which enter sockets in the front cross bar 13 of the top-frame, as shown in Fig. 10, these bolts beingfclamped in their locked position by thumb screws 46. The bolts are provided with operatingqepins .47 which pass through vertical slots 48"in said posts.

1n the normal extended position of the top, shown in Fig. l. its front portion is supported upon the wind-shield frame as \just described,l and its rear-portion is supported upon the standards formed by the posts 35 and the extended tubular Amembers 34, While the Vcover 7..,0f thev pocket is closed.

`In order to clear these standards, the cover is provided in its rear edge with notches or front end isdetached from the shield-frame 4 by loosening the screws 46 and withdraw-- after which the top is coling the bolts 45, lapsed tothe position shown in Fig. 2, by

`pu.shing`its front bar 13 rearwardly. lThecurtain 451, is next folded forwardly over i-.fthetop and the parts are fastened in this position preferably by a fpair'of straps 50 or other suitable means. The clamping bolts 36 are then withdrawn toV allow the collapsed top to swing down to the folded position. shown in Fig. 3, after which the `clamping bolts 38 of the telescopic standards are likewise 4unscrewed, allowing 'the tubes' Bel-and the folded top to descend into the pocket 5, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, and finally the .cover 7 is closed. In this position, the top is completely concealed and the car presents the appearance of one without a top. There are therefore no unsightly parts at the sides and vback of the car body, 'such as presented bythe ordinary top, when folded, giving the body a very neat and attractive appearance. To unfold the top, the cover 7 is opened the top is withdrawn from the pocket and and conveniently performed by one person.

the raised tubes 34 are clamped in position by means of the screws 38, after whichthe straps are removed and the top is swung to the horizontal position shown in Fig'. 2 and extended and fastened to the wind shield frame, as hereinbefore described. Its rear portion is firmly secured in this unfolded position by replacing the clamping screws 36. These operations can be quickly In the unfolded and extended position the vacant pocket 5 may be used for storing various articles, such as the side curtains of ,thel car', blankets, rain-coats, tires, the wind-shield, etc. n

Obviously, the top may be provided lwith v a greater or less number of telescopic. sections according tothe length and type of the vehicle. When applied to a runabout,

,the' frontfand rear nsections may vbe 'Sullicient. y-

, Asshownin'Figs. 6.a'n`d8,.the front cross bar 13 is somewhatshorter,thanv the foremostl bow 14of.th'e ,topf-frame.' By this construction the 'front portion of the collapsible top gradually narrows toward its front end, as best shown in Fig. 8, producing a more graceful elfectthan a top which is of'uniform width from end to end. rlhis .forwardly tapering form enables the top tb. be made of the desiredwidth as a whole ndyet permits its entrance into the pocket 5 which follows the customary downboats.

wardly-tapering form of the automobile body and is thus correspondingly contracted at lts lower end.

The standards 34 are located adjacent to the side walls of the downwardly-tapering pocket and'while the telescopic side-members of the top are inline with the standards and set in from said walls, the bows 14,19 and 26 extend laterally beyond the sidemembers nearly to said walls, thus ob taininga top substantially as wide as the vehicle-body when raised, and yet capable of 'entering the pocket, when lowered.

Thls improved top is applicable not only to automobiles of various kinds, but to other vehicles and conveyances, including motor v An example of this kind is shown 1n Fig. ll where a top 6a identical in construction with that shown in Figs. 110 is applied to a motor-boat which is provided 1nv its stern with a pocket or compartment 51 for receiving and concealing the folded top. The term vehicle-body used in the claims is intended to cover motor-boats as well as motor-cars.

Various modifications, coming within the scope of the appended claims, may be made by those skilled in the art without depart' lng from the spirit ofthe invention, and I do not therefore wish to be limited to the particular construction herein shown and described.

.i Iclaim as my invention:

1. The combination of a vehicle-body having a transverse pocket which is narrower its lower Ythan in its upper portion, ver tically-movable supports arranged in said ward its front end to conform to the lower portion of said pocket, and a flexible covering applied to said frame.

2. The combination with a vehicle-body having a pocket extending from side to side vthereof and made narrower in its lower than inits` upper portion, of telescopic standards secured within said pocket adjacent to its side walls, and a collapsible and foldable top adapted to enter said pocket, said top having a frame comprising telescopic vertically-swinging sidemembers pivoted at -their rear portions to the upper ends of said standards and transverse bows each carried by a pair of opposing sections of said side-members and extending laterally beyond theA same nearly to the side walls of said pocket in the folded position of the top, the front portion' of said top-frame being narrower than itsrear portion to conform to the lower portion of said pocket.

3. The combination of a vehicle-body having a pocket, telescopic standards arranged in said pocket, a cross-.bar connect- BEST AVAILABLE COP`y ing the upper movable members of said standards, guide-pulleys journaled on the rear Wall of said pocket, a lifting cord attached to said cross-bar and engaging said pulleys, and cushioning springs attached at their' lower ends to said cross-bar and at their upper ends to the Wall of said pocket.

4. A vehicle-top .having a frame comprising telescopic side-members provided with longitudinal slots and transverse bows extending beyond said members and each having inwardly-extending arms secured to a pair of said sideanembers and normally arranged in the slots of the next adjacent side-members.

5. A. vehicle-top having a frame comprising telescopic side-members provided with longitudinal slots and transverse bows each having its end-portions secured to a pair of said side-members and normally arranged in the slots of the adjacent side-members, the slots of the foremost pair oi' side-members terminating short of their front ends, While the slots of the remaining side-meinbers extend to their front ends and are constructed to admit the end-portions of the preceding bows. l

. 6. A vehicle top having a frame comprising telescopic side-members provided with longitudinal slots and transverse bows each having its end-portions secured to a pair' of said sideanembers and normally arranged in the slots of the adjacent sideniembers, the slots of the side-members, except those of the foremost pair, extending to the front ends of the members and being contracted at those ends, `forming stopshoulders for the end-portions of the companion bows. 7. A vehicleetop having a frame comprising telescopic side-members provided with longitudinal slots and transverse bows each having' nturned arms securedto a pair of said side members and normally arranged in the slots of the adjacent side-members, the arms of said bows being progressively thicker from the front toward the rear of said frame, the slots of each pair of side members, except those of the oremost ones, extending to the frontends of the members and being contracted at their front ends` forming stops, the contracted portionsr the slots of each pair being wide enough tu admit the arms of the preceding bows but narrower than the thickness of the arms 5^ their companion bow to prevent complete Withdrawal of the arms from the slots. MICHAEL F. WILDAU. 

